...a standard of songs that most writers can only dream about, and admire in drop-jawed silence... Bob's a true artist, and he'll dig things out of your heart you didn't know were still there.
Folk Roots, London, England

 
Local singer-songwriter Bob Franke is known for topical songs with hilarious tunes as well as ballet music and three cantatas composed for the Church of St. Andrew in Marblehead. His songs have been sung by Peter, Paul and Mary, David Wilcox, John McCutcheon, Lui Collins and Garnet Rogers. One of his best known songs, "Hard Love," is prominently featured in Swampscott resident Ellen Wittlinger's young adult novel of the same name.
       The Boston Globe describes Franke as "...a singer songwriter unsurpassed for his lyrical grace... one of our wisest and most spiritually graceful songwriters." Legendary folk singer Tom Paxton says of Franke: "I always think of Bob as if Emerson and Thoreau had picked up acoustic guitars and gotten into songwriting. There's touches of Mark Twain and Buddy Holly in there too." All who have seen Bob Franke perform would most likely agree as well.